Ok Beowulf . I have the zcd 200i, I also have the Rega Dac , I can go back and forth using the tascam side of the cd player with the coax ouput, and AB it on the fly with the inputs of the white se84c+. There something about that rega dac thats more real sounding when you listen to instruments , but thats where it ends . the zcd is a wider and deeper soundstage and maybe slightly more detailed, these are both around a 1000.00 dollars , the zcd being slightly more as to your options , I just got the regulator and one volume control. I'll tell you the 5 volt ouput really keeps me from wanting anymore power than the zen amps provide...........

I have listened to both the Wadia 121 and the W4S DAC2. Both are terrific and both require a couple of hundred hours of burn in. The W4S has a few more inputs so its a bit more expensive. I am sure there are better DAC's but the prices really go up and the law of diminishing returns really kicks in above either of them.

The dB Labs Tranquility is Selling for $700 or so on Audiogon and it is fantastic for that price and is made in America with very good support. I just plugged mine in and it compares very well to the EE Dac Plus and the Metrum Octave.

Wow, what a great list of feedback, I can see I have my work cut out for me!

jameskk, I never thought about the ZCD 200i as an option, although I don't have many CD's, I prefer reading files from my PC as my source, so it would almost be a waste to get something with a CD player. But good to know!

Donnie, the Wyred 4 Sound DAC1 has got some great reviews, but I was trying to get 24/192 ... Although the DAC2 has that feature, but at $499 more.

busterfree, the PS Audio looks promising. I'll definitely check into that one. I think I read somewhere that Lon has the big brother PerfectWave ... that is a cool piece of gear, however out of my budget.

JazztoGo, the AVA's are interesting. I never heard of them, but would love to hear that hybrid tube DAC ... very industrial looking design too! I wonder if they come up on audiogon every once in a while for a used one?

Morganc and opnly_bafld (cool name by the way), I read about dB Labs last year and then forgot all about them, Have you seen this thread http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=74816.0 ? It is an extensive post about their products and overall just a whole lot of good info in general.

I do have the big brother to the new PS Audio NuWave DAC, and because I love the big brother so much I would definitely audition the new one if I could if I were in the market for a DAC at that price point.

Second, if you are using a Windows based system, w/o question, you need JPlay riding on J.River Media Center as your media playback engine. Truly incredible computer playback. Nothing is better than this for a Windows system.

No Beowulf, I have not, as of yet, built one of their DAC's. Though I will be ( short of hitting Lotto and having unlimited cash ), building one up in the future. Probably the Buffalo III, though I haven't ruled out the COD as it would ( for me ) be easier to design an all tube IV converter output stage.

That said, I do have, in house, their Ventus headphone amp w/ Placid BP PS. Just haven't got around to building it yet, and very possibly might never actually build it. But I can unequivocally state that I am incredibly impressed by the quality of what I received from TP. Everything in the kits are first class right down to the available documentation. If you can stuff a board, you can build their stuff.